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CALIFORNIA NAMES 

AND THEIR 

LITERAL MEANINGS 

ALSO 

Other Primary Geography Names 

AND THEIR MEANINGS. 



A BOOK FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER CURIOUS PEOPLE. 



COLLECTED AND ARRANGED BY 

C. M. DRAKK, 

LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNLA. 



F*rice, F*a.per, 25 Cents, Clotht, 40 Centa. 



JONES BOOK AND PRINTING CO. 

LOS ANGELES, CAL 
1893. 



-' ^'V"^'^ 



Naming places is like naming babies, and it is a 
mere chance if the name fits. We name them after 
some great man, we name them after our own dear 
selves. We call a bay or a baby "Pearl" and we think 
we have described it. We even, at times, select fancy 
names of no meaning. 

This little list of names is neither complete nor accur- 
ate. The California names, I have gathered in twenty 
years roaming around this State. I printed a small list, 
sixteen years ago, which has been going the rounds of 
the newspapers ever since. 

The translation of our Spanish names, is not always 
easy. Many are corrupt spellings, and the dictionary 
meaning may not be the true one. 1 give them as 
they were given to me by the old settlers, and if they 
did not know the true meaning they invented one. 

"Why did you spell Cienega, S-c-e-n-e-g-a.'^" 1 asRed 
a Ventura settler. "When we got our post-office," he 
replied, "they asked me if Cienega was spelled with an 
S or a C. I told them to put both in to make sure." 
So I have sometimes put in two meanings "to make 
sure." 

Except a few California names, this list is taken 
from the maps of the California Elementary Geography. 
For the convenience of the teacher, I have put each 
map by itself, and have repeated some names. About 



one fourth of the meanings I have taken from the older 
editions of Webster's Dictionary and Lippincott's 
Gazetteer. Others came from books of travel, histor- 
ies and newspapers. Any corrections that you may be 
Sure of will be thankfully received by 

C. M. DRAKE. 
Long Beach, California. 



CALIFORNIA NAMES, 



AcAMPO — "pasture land on commons." 
Agricola — "a farmer." 
Agua Caiente — "hot water." 

Cayendo — "falling water." 

DuLCE — "sweet water," 

Hedionda — "stinking water." 

Tibia — "warm water." 

Puerca — "water for pigs." 
Alameda — "a walk, with trees." i. e. poplars. 
Alamillo, Alamitos — "little poplars." 
Alamo is "cotton wood." 

Alamos Muchos; "many poplars," or cottonwoods, 
Albion — "mountainous land." Some say "white." 
Albuquerque — "white oak." 
Alcatraz — "pelican." 
Alisos — -'alders." 



CALIFORNIA. 



Almaden — "mine." 

Alpine is high land, where it '*snows." 

Alta, — "high." 

Altamont — "high mountain." 

Altaville — "high town.'" 

Altl'Ras — "the heavens." 

Alvarado is a surname meaning "white-road." 

Alviso — "the view." 

A.\L\DOR is a surname meaning "lover." 

A>L-\RAGOSA R. has bitter water. 

American R. had a settlement of Americanos, or 
people from the U. S. 

Anaheim is "Anna's home." 

Anahuac is said to mean "everlasting water." 

Angel I. was named for Michael. 

Antelope Valley had antelope in. 

Anita is "little Anna." 

Antioch is an ancient city. 

Arcade is a row of arches. 

Arena — "sand.*' 

Arguello is a surname meaning "thin" or "unhealthy.'' 

Arrowhead Springs has a mark like a big arrow- 
head on the mountains near by. 

Arroyo Burro — "jackass creek." 
Del Norte— "north." 



Grande — "big creek." 
Media — "middle creek." 
Seco — "drv creek." 



CAIJFORNIA, 



Artesia, from Artois in France, has Artesian wells. 
Atascadkro is a "miry place." 
Atlanta was a famous city and game of Greece. 
Auburn is a surname meaning "brown." Also an 

ancient city. 
AzusA — "above:" A misspelling of Asusa, I was 

told. 

Baden— "bath." 

Bakersfield is the "i)lace where the baker's oven is." 

Bai.dy Mt. is bare or bald on its top. 

Ballena Mountain looks like "a whale." 

Bangor — "high choir." 

Banning is a surname. 

Banner was the "banner" mining camp. 

Barro — "clay." 

Batavia — "low plain." 

Bear Valley. There are many bears, and bear valleys 

in Cal. 
Bellota — "acorns." 
Bella Vista — "beautiful view." 
Belmont— a surname meaning "beautiful mountain.'' 
Benedict is a surname meaning "blessed." 
Benicia was the wife of (^en Vallejo. 
Berenda — "antelope." 
Berkeley — "brook, meadow." 
Berlin — "uncultivated land." 
Bernard and Bernardino— "Bernard." 



CALIFORNIA, 



Blanco — "white." 

Boca — "mouth," 

Bodega was a Captain. It means "pocket." 

Bolinas — "ropes?" 

BoNiTA — "pretty." 

Brea is named from the coal-oil residue there. 

Brooklyn — "brook pool." 

BuENA Ventura — "good luck." 

" Vista — "good view." 
Butte — "lone mountain." 

Cabrillo Cape was named after the discoverer. 

Cache is 'a hiding place for goods." 

Cajon is "a big box," (valley) shut in by hills. 

Calaveras — -'place of the skull." 

Caliente— "hot." 

Cambria is a name for Wales, meaning "Cymri 
country." 

Campo — "camp." 

Campo Seco — "dry camp." 

Canada is a "mountain valley." 

" de LOS CocHEs — "pig valley." 

" " " NOQUES — "tan-pit valley." 

" Verde — "green valley." 

Canon is a deep valley with steep sides. 

Carissa for Carrizo — "a reed grass." 

Carlsbad— "Charles' bath." 

Carmelo, Carmelito — "a flower." 

Carmen — "a country house." 



CALIFORNIA. 



Carnadero is, probably, a sheep owner. 

Carneros are sheep, though Borego is the Cal. word 

for sheep. 
Carpenteria had a "carpenter's shop" there. 
Casa Grande — "big house." 
Castroville, after Gen. Castro (camp). 
Cayucas — "a fishing boat." 
Centinela — "a sentinal." 
Ceres is the Goddess of Grain. 
Cerros— "hills." 

Cerritos — "little hills." Also written-CERiLLOs. 
Cerro Gordo — "thick hill." 
Chico— "little." Gov. Chico. 
Chileno — "from Chili." 
Chino is a Chinaman, or a simpleton. 
Chocolate — "brown. ' ' 
Cienega — "swamp." Wrongly spelled Scenega in 

Ventura. 
Cimarron — "lost" river. 
Cisco — "broken coal." 
Cloverdale Valley has much burr clover. 
CoAHUiLLA or Kaweah — "seceders." Indians. 
Colorado — "red." 

CoLTON was a R. R. man. "Coal-town." 
Coaipton — Count's town. A surname. 
Concepcion honors the "Immaculate Conception," 
Concord, because they dwell together in "harmony." 
CoNEjo — "rabbit." 



CALIFORNIA. 



Contra Costa — "the opposite coast." 

CoppEROPOLis — ''coi)per city,' has copper mines. 

CoRDERO — "lamb.'' 

CoRONADO — "crowned.'' A surname. 

CoRRALiTOs, or "little corral," is a cattle pen. 

CoRTE Madera — "wood yard." 

Coyote — "wolf." 

Crescent City was built that way. 

Cruz, Cruces — "cross-es." 

CucAMONGA is a "nun of CYil repute." 

Cuyamaca — "it rains behind." 

Cypress Pt. is coYered with cypresses. 

Death Valley from the many deaths of those crossing 
the Yalley. 

Dehesa — "pasture ground." 

Del Mar — "of the sea.'' 

Delta is the (yreek D. See Dictionary. 

De Luz — "of light." A surname. 

Descanso — "place of rest." 

Diablo is the "Devil's" mountain. A favorite Span- 
ish name. 

Diego, Dieguito — "James." 

DiRiGO — "a straight drive." 

DizuAS was a saint. 

Dolores is a woman's name. "Sorrowful." 

Dos Cabezas — "two heads." 
" Palm as — "two palms." 



CALIFORNIA. I 3 



Dos Pueblos — "two villages." 

" Valles — "two valleys." 
Downey and 

DowNiEViLLE after Gov. Downey. "A hilly slope." 
Drake's Bay, where some think Sir Francis Drake 

wintered. 
Dulzura — "sweetness." 

El Capitan — "the Captain." 

El Casco is the place of the wine "cask." 

Eldorado — "the land of gold." 

El Molino — "the mill." 

El Monte — "the thicket." 

El NiDO — "the nest," meaning residence. 

El Paso — "the pass." 

El Riro is where a "ceremony" was performed. 

El Sausal — "the willow" grove. 

Elsinore, a fancy name said to be taken from Hamlet. 

Elwood Cooper settled there. 

Encinal — "oak woods." 

Encinitas — "little oaks." 

Encino — "oak." 

Ensenada — "bay." 

EscoNDiDO — "hidden." 

EsPERANZA — "hope." 

EsPiRiTU Santo — "Holy Spirit." 

EsTERO — "a salt marsh." 

Estrella — "star." 



14 CALIFORNIA. 



Etna — "a mountain of fire." 
Eureka — "I have it." 

Farallones — "needles," or small pointed islands in 

the sea. 
Felipe — "Fhilip." - 
Feliz — "happy." 
Flores, Florin — "flowers." 
FoLsoM — a surname. 

French Corral — camp where Frenchmen mined. 
Fresno — "the ash tree." 

Gabilan is properly 

Gavilan — "sparrow hawk." 

Gallinas — "chickens. " 

Garcia was as early settler. 

Garrote — "strangling with an iron collar." 

Garvanza is said to mean a "pea blossom." 

Gaviota — "gull." 

Glenella — Ella's glen." 

Goleta — "schooner. " 

Gordo — "thick" or fat. 

Gonzales, a surname. 

Graciosa — "gracious." 

Granada — "the pomegranate." 

Grantville — "big town." Named after Grant. 

Greenwich — "green town." 

Guadalupe — "river wolf. " 

Gua (wah) is the Indian for house by the water. 



CALIFORNIA. 15 



GuAji — "house of trees." 
GuAjOME — "house by frog-pond." 
GuATAY — "big house." 
GuAjiTO — "little house." 

Harford, where a hare can ford a stream. 
Healdsburg — "Heald's town." "Healthy town." 
Herimosa, Hermosillo — "beautiful." 
HoLLisTER is a surname meaning — "one who lives by 

the holly trees." 
Honda — "deep." 
Honey L. and Springs. There are many wild bees 

in Cal. 
HoPLAND is adapted to hops. 
HoRNiTOs — "little oven." It is very hot there. 
HoYA — "hole." Sometimes spelled Jolla. 
HuACUPiN — "warmhouse." 
Hueneme — "house by the sea." 
Humboldt — is a surname. 
Huron — "hair." 

Ilpa Mts. have many "acacias" on them. 

Indio — "Indian." 

Inez or Ynez — "Agnes." 

lovv'A was settled by folks from Iowa (drowsy). 

IsLETA — "little island." 

Jackson was a President. "Son of John." 
J A (ha) is water in the Diegueno language. 



l6 CALIFORNIA. 



Jacumba — "hut by the water." 
Jacupin — "warm water." 

Jamacha — "scummy water," or the mock-orange. 
Jamul — "antelope water." 
J ANAL — "mother of waters." 
Japatul — "water baskets." 
Jemet — "acorn valley." 
Joaquin — "Joachim." 
JoLON — "snow." 

JoRNADO Del Muerto — "journey of death." 
Juan — "John." 
Juan A — "Jane." 
Juarez — a surname. 

Julian — Mike was one of the first to come to that 
camp. 

Kaweah — "seceders," same as Coahuilla Indians. 

Kern was an explorer. 

Keyes and King are like surnames. 

Klamath — Indians. 

Knight's Ferry was run by Knight. 

La — "the." Las — "the" plural. 

La Grulla — "sand hill crane." 

Laguna — "lake." 

La Jolla, or Joy a, are probably misspellings of — 

HoYA "hole" or cave. 
La Junta — "the junction." 
Lakeside is by a small lake. 



CALIFORNIA. 1 7 



La Mesa — "the table" land. 

Lancha Plana — "thin flat stone" to write on. 

La Patera — "the duck pond." 

La Paz — "peace. ' ' 

La Playa — "the beach." 

La Presa — "the dam" of the Sweetwater. 

La Porte — "the port." 

La Punta — "the point" or cape. 

Las Animas — "the ringing bells." 

Las Cruces — "the crosses." 

Las Flores — "the flowers." 

Las Penasquitas — was given to me there as "little 
rocks." It looks as if it came from Pen a, a pain 

Las Posas — "the wells." 
" PosiTAS Y Calera — "the springs and lime-kiln," 

Las Vegas — "the meadows." 

Lassen, Lathrop, Latrobe, and Lawson are sur- 
names. 

Leandro — "Leander. ' ' 

Leon — "lion." 

Lerdo — "slow." 

Lincoln — (pool-hill-colony,) was a President. 

Lalgas — "place of thorns." 

LoBOs — "wolves." 

LoMA— "hill." 

Long Beach has a fine long beach. 

Lorenzo is the same as Lawrence. 

Los — "the" masculine. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Los Alamos — "the poplars." 

" Banos — "the baths." 

" Berros — "the water-cresses." 

" CocHES — "the pigs." 

" Coronades — "tonsured priests. " SeeCoronado. 

" CuEROs — "the hides." 

" Feliz — "the lucky." 

" Gatos — "the cats." 

" Medanos — "the sand banks on the sea shore." 

" Nietos — "the grand sons. ' ' 

" Osos — "the bears." 

" Prietos — "the dark" place. 

" RoBLES — "the oaks." 
Lugo — "a kind of linen." A man's name. 
Lyons — was named after Gen. Lyons. 

Madera — "wood." 

Madrone is the strawberry tree." 

Maneadero — "hobbling grou;id" for horses. 

Manitou is the Indian God. 

Manuelito is little Emanuel. 

Manzanita — "little apple," is a fine mountain shrub. 

Mare is the "sea" island. 

Marin was an Indian chief. 

Mariposa was named after the "butterfly" lilies. 

Martinez or Martin, is a surname. 

Mataquaquat — "red earth." 

Mendocino — "little liar." A surname. 



CALIFORNIA. 1 9 



Menifee is a surname. 

Merced — "mercy." 

Mercenarios — "a mercenary." 

Meridian — "mid-day." 

Mesa Grande — "big table" land. 

Mesilla — "little flat-topped hill. 

Mesquite is an acacia shrub. 

Miguel, Miguelito — "Michael." 

Milpitas is said to mean —"little gardens." 

MiLQUATAY — "big foot" Valley. 

Mission Valley contains the old mission buildings. 

MiTARAGui — "crooked land." 

Modesto — "modest." 

Modoc Indians. "Strangers." 

MojAVE or Mohave — "three mountains." 

Mono — "a monkey," from reports that monkeys lived 

there. 
Monte Diablo — "Devil's mountain." 
MoNTECiTO, Monticello— "little hill." 
MONTEREY' — "Mt. King." 

Monserrate — "notched mountain." A surname. 
Moreno — "brown," or swarthy. A surname. 
MoRRO is a hugh bald rock. 

" Hermoso — "twin (brother) rocks." 
MuRRiETA was the owner of the grant. 



Nacimiento — "birth" of Christ. 
Nadeau was a settler. 



CALIFORNIA. 



National City is on a ranch once belonging to the 
Mexican ''nation." 

Navajo Indians. It is a "lake" or "plain" in Spanish. 

Nevada — "white with snow." 

New Almaden — "new mine." Almaden is in 
Spain. 

Newhall owned the grant on which the town is. 

New Jerusalem because it is not like Jerusalem, be- 
ing noted for drunkenness, etc. 

New Year's Pt. was discovered on that day. 

NoGALEs, the native California walnut. 

NoRDHOFF described the valley in a book. 

NovATO, NuEvo — "new," 

Oak Dale is a valley of oak trees. 

Oceanside is by the side of the Pacific. 

OjAi — "big trees?" 

Olancha was given to me as "large waves." 

Oleta — "oily." 

Olla is an unglazed water jar. 

Omega, O, is the last letter in Greek. 

Orange County and 'J'own raise many oranges. 

Oro Grande — "big gold." 

" FiNO— "fine gold." 
Oroville — "gold town." 
Otero is a surname. 
Ortigalito — "little nettle." 
Ortiz is a surname. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Oso Flaco — "poor bear." 
Otay— "big." 
Owens is a surname. 

Pacheco is a surname. 
Paguay — "meeting of the valleys*" 
Pajaro— "bird." 
Pala — "water." 

Palos Verdes — "green sticks." 
Pasadena is called the Crown of the Valley. 
Paso Robles — "pass of oaks." 
Pauba and Pauma refer to the water there. 
P ERR IS was a R. R. man. 
Pescadero — "a fishing place." 
Petaluma — "low hills." 
Petroliopolis — "oil city." 
PiCACHO — "sharp peak." 
PiEDRA Blancas — "whitc rocks." 
Piedra Grande — "big rock." 
Pigeon Pt. There are many wild pigeons there. 
PiLARCiTOs — "little pillars" of stone. 
Pinole — "parched corn, sugar, and water." 
PiNOs — "pines." 
Pinon — "a nut pine." 
Pipo is a small fly-eating bird. 
PiRU, miners from Peru first went on the creek. 
Placer, from the "mines of gold on the creeks" found 
there. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Plano — "plain." 

Pleito — "bargain or dispute." 

Plumas — "feathers," referring to the Feather (spray) 
river. 

Pomona was the Goddess of Fruits. 

Poncho — "lazy", also a kind of blanket cloak. 

PoRTiLLO is a little gate — Porto. 

PosA — "a spring," or a passing bell. 

POTRERO — "pasture ground." 

PowAY is an improved? spelling of Paguay. 

Presidio — "garrison or penitentiary." They put con- 
victs in the army. 

Puente — "a bridge." 

PuERCO — "dirty," or a pig. 

Pujol is a surname. 

Punta Arenas — "point of sands." 

PuRissiMA — "most pure" Virgin Mary. 

Rafaela — "Raphael." 

Ramona was the heroine of a well-known romance. 

Ranchito — "little farm." 

Rancho Viejo — "old farm." 

Raton — "mouse." 

Red Bluff, Redlands, Redding, (surname) from 

the color of the ground. 
Redondo — "round" or pasture land. 
Redwood City from the redwood trees there. 
Refugio — "refuge. ' ' 



CALIFORNIA. 23 



Reyes — "Kings." 
RiNCON is an inside corner. 
RiNCONADO — "corner of the road." 
Rio Grande — "big river." 

" Seco — "dry river." 

" Vista — "river view." 
Riverside is not far from the Santa Ana river. 
Rodeo is a rounding up of cattle for branding. 
Romero is a surname. 
RosARio — "rosary." 
RosEBURG — "town of Rose," the owner. 

Sacramento honors the Holy Sacrament. 

Sal— "salt." 

Salazar — "salty." 

Salida — "a start." 

Salinas — "salty." 

Salsi Puedes — "get out if you can." An appropriate 
name. 

San, Santa, or Santo, is the Spanish for saint. More 
than a hundred places, in California, are named 
after the saints. A te.w of the places were dis- 
covered or settled upon on the day of the saint 
whose name they bear. Ranches, which give their 
names to many streams and towns, were named after 
the patron saint of the owner, or the saint whose 
day was the owner's birthday. 

San Andreas — "Andrew." 



24 CALIFORNIA. 



San Anselmo — "Anselm." 
Antonio — "Anthony." 
Benito — "Benedict." 
Bernardo — "Bernard." 
Bernardino — "Bernard the Less." 
Bruno — "Brown." 
Buenaventura — "Bonaventure." 
Carlos — "Charles." 
Clemente — "Clement." 
Diego — "James." 
DiEGUiTO — "James, the Less." 
DiMAS — "Demas." 

DiZUAS— 

Domingo — "Dominic." (Sunday.) 

Felipe — "Philip." 

Fernando — "Ferdinand." 

Gorgonio — 

Gregorio — "Gregory." 

Geronimo — "Jerome." 

Ignatio — "Ignatius." 

Jacinto — "Jacinth." 

Joaquin — "Joachim." 

Josp: — "Joseph." 

Juan — "John." 

Leandro — "Leander. ' ' 

Lorenzo — "Lawrence." 

Lucas — "Luke." 

Luis — "Lewis." 



CALIFORNIA. 



25 



San Luis Obispo — "Lewis the Bishop." 
" Luis Rey — "Lewis the King." 
" Marcial — "Martial." 
" Marcos — "Mark." 
" Mateo — "Matthew." 
" Miguel — "Michael." 
" Nicholas — "Nicholas." 
" Onofre — "Humphrey." 
" Pablo— "Paul." 
' Pasqual — "Holy Passover." 
" Pedro — "Peter." 
" QuiNriN — (the fifth.) 
" Ramon — "Raymond." 
" Rafael— "Raphael." 
" Salvador — "Holy Savior." 
" Simeon — "Simon." 
" 'FiMOTEO — "Timothy." 
" Vicente — "Vincent." 
" Ylejo— "Elias." 
" Ysidro — "Isadore." 
Santa Ana— "Anna." 

Anita — "x^nna." 

Barbara — (stranger.) 

Catalin A — "Kate. " 

Clara — "Clara." 

Cruz— "Holy Cross." 

Fe— "Holy Faith." 

Gertrudis — "Gertrude." 



26 CALIFORNIA. 



Santa Lucia — "Lucy." 

" Margarita — "iMargaret." 

" Maria — "Mary." 

" Monica — 

" Paula — "Paulina." 

" Rita — "Margaret, Pearl." 
Rosa— "Rose." 

" Susan A — "Susan." 

" Ynez-Inez — "Agnes." 
YsABEL— "Isabel." 
St. Helena — "Helen." 
St. Louis — "Lewis." 
Sapinero is a kind of pine. 
Saratoga — "place of water in rocks." City in New 

York. 
Sausalito — "little willow." 

Scenega is a misspelling of Cienega — "a swamp." 
Secuan is a precipice. 
Sepulveda is a surname. 
Sesma is "one sixth" of the land. 
Sespe are evil spirits. 

Shasta — "men." Indians. Some say "stone house" 
Shingle Springs has much shingle (gravel) there. 
Sierra — "a saw;" then a mountain because the toi)s 

look like saw-teeth. 
Sierra Madre — "mountains of the Mother" of Christ. 
Sierra Nevada — "mountains white with snow." 
Si mi — "source of water." 



CALIFORNIA. 27 



Siskiyou Indians. 

SoBRANTE — "overplus." 

Solan A — "sunny." 

Solano — "east wind." 

SoLEDAD — "solitary." 

Soto — "a grove." 

Spencer Valley, after a settler. "One who gives out 

food." 
Stanislaus is a Spanish Christian name. 
Stockton was a Commodore. "Castle town." 
Sumac or shoemake is plentiful in California. 
SuMi — "sunken." 
Sur— "south." 

Sutter was an early settler, Capt. John Sutter. 
Sweetwater river comes from the mountains and is 

"agua dulce." 



Tahoe — "big water." 

Tamalpais — "dumpling ground." Named after the 

Tomales Indians. 
Teaco— "black." 
Tecate — "salt water." 
Tecolote — "the ground owl." 
Tehama — "low land." 
Tejon — "badger .' ' 

Temecula — "the rising sun" hit the house very early. 
Temescal — "a sweat house." 



CALIFORNIA. 



TiA JuANA — Aunt Jane — was corrupted from Tiwaxa 

— ''by the sea." 
TiBURON — "shark." 
TijERA — "sheep-shearers." 
ToDOs Santos — "All saints." 
ToLjOL — "source of water." 
ToRO is "a bull." 

Trabuco Ranch land is much "tumbled about." 
Tres Pinos — "three pines." 
'J'rigo — "wheat." 
Trinidad — "Trinity.' ' 
Tulare — "place of tules" or rushes. 

\'acaville — "cow town." 

\'alle Bautista — "Baptist valley. ' 

Vallecitos— "little valleys." 

\'alle de las Pulgas — "valley of the fleas." 

" " " ViEjAs — "valley of old women." 
Vallejo — "little valley." Is named after (General 

Vallejo. 
\^EGA — "a meadow," 
Ventura is a contraction of San Buenaventure, 

whose name means "good chance." 
\^iCENTE — "Vincent," 
ViEjAS — "old." 
Vina — "a vineyard." 
\'iRGENEs — "virgins." 
\'iSALiA — "look-out place." 



CALIFORNIA. 29 



VoLCAN — "volcano." 

Wakxkk was the owner "One who kept a warren." 

Waikkford is sometimes a fort by the water, some- 
times a ford. 

Winchester (Win-castle) was a R. R. man. 

WiLDOMAR is a fancy name. 

Wilmington — "William's town." 

Wilson's Peak. The surname means "son of Wil- 
liam. ' ' 

Yolo — "tules" or "rushes." 
Yreka — "cave mountain." 
Yuba is said to be a corruption of the Spanish for 

"grapes." 
Yo Semite — "grizzly bear." 




THE HEMISPHERES. 



Africa means "black man's land." 

Albert Lake was named in honor of Albert, the hus- 
band of Queen Victoria. 

Aleutian is the Russian for "bald rock." 

Alps means mountain "white with snow." 

Amazon — "boat-destroyer." The tide sometimes 
comes up the Amazon in waves ten and twenty feet 
high, and destroys many small boats. 

America was named in honor of Amerigo Vespucci. 

Amoor — "water" or "river." 

Andes — "copper." 

Antarctic — "opposite the Arctic" or great bear. 

Arabian — belonging to the country of the Arabs — 
"desert men." 

Aral — "island." 

Arctic is the "great bear" of the astronomers. 

Asia means "the east" 



32 THE HEMISPHERES. 

Atlantic — because it was "beyond the Atlas" mount- 
ains. 

Atlas was a king of Mauritania (Morocco) who was 
thought to support the heavens upon his shoulders, 
after being turned into a mountain. 

Australia is "south land." 

Azores — "hawks." 

Bab-el-Mandeb is the "gate of tears." 

Baffin Bay was explored by William Baffin in 1616. 

Baltic Sea is full of "belts" or straits. 

Barrow — "hill." Sir John Barrow was in England 

an ofificial whose position is similar to that of our 

Secretary of the Navy. 
Behring Sea and Strait was named in honor of the 

explorer, Vitus Behring. 
Bengal — "to go crooked." 

Bermuda was discovered by Juan Bermudez in 1522. 
Biscay was named after the "Basque" province. Basque 

means "mountain land." 
Black Sea is full of black rocks. 
Blanco is the Spanish for "white." 
Borneo means "land." 
British Islands were so named for the "tin" found 

there. Britannia means the "land of tin." 

Canary Islands were so named from the fine dogs 
(canis) bred there. 



1HF-. HKMISPHKRKS. 33 

Cai'K Vk.ri) Islands are off Cape Verd (green) of 
Africa. 

Carii'.mkax Sea was named after the Carihs (cruel men) 
who live east of it. 

Carolink Islands were named in honor of Chas. \', 
King of Germany and Spain. Caroline is the femi- 
nine of ("harles-Carolus in Latin. 

Caspian Sea was named after the ('aspi tribe, who 
settled on its shore. 

Ckv[.on means "isle of lions." 

China is the "land of Tsin," who built the great wall. 

Columbia is the "land of Columbus." 

Cook Islands were named in honor of Cajjt. C^ook, 
the great navigator. 

Danuhk — "low meadow." 

Davis Strait was discovered by John Davis in 15^5- 

Europe means "broad face," or land. 

Falki^am) Islands were named in honor of Henry 

Falkland, an English statesman. 
Farkwkli, — The sailors bid "farewell" to the land at 

this cape. 
Farther India — Hindoostan was the nearer India, 

or "great river land." 
Friendly Islands were so called by Cook, because the 

natives were "friendly." 



34 THE HEMISPHERES. 



Galapagos Islands were so named from the many 

"turtles" found there. 
Gallinas is the Spanish for "chickens." 
Ganges — "river. ' ' 
Gibraltar — "hill of Tarik." 
Gobi is "a desert." 
Good Hope Cape was so called because there was 

"good hope" of getting to India after rounding this 

cape. 
Greenland was so named to encourage settlers from 

Iceland, though there is green moss on its coast. 
Guinea means "land of gold." New Guinea also 

has gold. 

Himalaya — "abode of snow." 

Hindoostan — "Hindoo-land." Hindoo is the same 
as Indus or "great river." 

HoANG-HO — "yellow river." 

Horn — This cape was named after Hoorn, the birth- 
place of its discoverer. 

Hudson Bay and Strait was named after the discoverer 
Henry Hudson. 

Iceberg means "ice mountain." 

Iceland has much ice from Greenland, on its northern 

coast. 
Indus means "great river," Hence, India, Indian 

Ocean, and Hindoostan. 



THE HEMISPHERKS. 35 

Japan named after Niphon, its largest island, means 

"sun land." 
Java is the "land of nutmegs," some say of rice. 

Lena means "sluggard." The river runs slowly. 
London means the "fortified hill by the pool." 

Mackenzie River was discovered by Alex. Mackenzie. 

Madagascar — "Malay-land." 

Magellan Strait was named after its discoverer^ 

Ferdinand Magellan. 
Marshall means "horse-servant." The Islands were 

named in honor of John? Marshall. 
Mediterranean means "in the middle of the land." 
Mendocino is a surname, "a little liar." 
Mexico was named after Mexitli, their God of War. 
Mississippi is "great water." 
Missouri is "muddy water." 

New Caledonia — The old name for Scotland wa.s 
Caledonia meaning "Gael's hill land." Gael means 
"hidden rover." 

New Hebrides — named after the Hebrides or "West- 
ern" Islands of Scotland. 

Newfoundland was so called by Cabot, the discoverer. 

New York was named in honor of the Duke of York. 

New Zealand means "new sea-land." 

Niger means "black." 



36 I'HE HEMISPHERES. 

North Caj)e, Nor th Eas t Cape and Nor ih (ot Crer- 

many) Sea show direction. 
Nova Zemhla — "new land." 

Orange River settlers came from Orange in Holland. 
Orinoco — "coiled up snake." 

Pacieic Ocean is "peaceful.' Magellan so named it. 
Pai.xeas Cape was named from its "palms." 
Panama is the name of a mud fish found there. 
Pekin is the "north cajntal." 
Persia is the "land of the Parsees" or men-tigers. 

Red Sea was so called from the red earth of its bed. 
Rio 1)E ea Peaia means "river of silver." The water 

shmes like silver. 
Rio Janeiro — "river of January." 
Rocky Mountains are full of rocks. 

Sahara — '"desert." 

Sandwich Islands were named in honor of the Earl 

of Sandwich (sand town), who was the First Lord 

of the Admiralty. 
SociEiY Islands were also named by Cook, in honor 

of the Royal Society. 
Sr. Lawrence Gulf was explored on St. Lawrence's 

day. 
St. Lucas Caoe was named in honor of St. Luke. 



rHK HK.MISI'HKKKS. 37 

S r. RoQUE Cape was sighted on that day. 
SiT.MAi'KA — "hnppy land." 

I'anganika — "plain-like lake." 

Tasmania was named after the discoverer, Abel Tas- 



I'lF.RRA DHL FuEGO — "land of fire." Magellan saw 
many fires there. 



Ural — "belt" or "girdle." 

X'alparaiso — "vale of Paradise." 

X'ancouver was a Middy under Capt. Cook, when he 

discovered the island. 
N'erd is "green." 
Victoria Lake and Victoria Land were named in 

honor of Queen Victoria. 
\'olga was named after the Volsci tribe. 

West Indies were thought by Columbus to be India. 
W^est was added afterwards to distinguish them from 
the East Indies. 

Yang Tse Kiang — "son of the sea." 
Yellow Sea has an immense (quantity of yellow mud 
poured into it by the Hoang-Ho, or "yellow river." 



NORTH AMERICA 



Alaska — "great country." 

Albany was named in honor of the Duke of York and 

Albany. Albany means "high land." Albyn was 

Scotland. 
Alberta was named in honor of Albert, Prince of 

Wales. 
Arctic — "belonging to the great bear." 
Arkansas — "bow of smoky water." 
Asia — "east." 
AsPiNWALL was a merchant. The city is properly 

Colon after Columbus. 
AssiNiBOiA is the land of the Stone-Sioux (Indians.) 
Athabasca means "swampy land." 
Atlantic is the Ocean "beyond the Atlas" Mountains. 

Banks Land was named in honor of Sir Jos. Banks. 
Barrow is a surname meanin(>; "hill." 



40 NORTH AMERICA, 



Baihurst is a surname. Hurst means "woods.'' 
Behring was the discoverer of Behring Sea and Strait. 
Belle Isle is "l)eautiful island." 
Bermuda was discovered by Juan Bermudez. 
Boothia is "Sir Felix Booth's country." Booth is a 

surname meaning "house of boughs." 
Boston — "St. Botolph's town." 
Brazos — "arms." 
Bristol is a surname meaning "breach place." The 

Avon in England makes a breach there. 
British Columbia honors Columbus and belongs to 

Britain. 
Brooklyn — "brook pool." 

Canada — "a village of huts." 

Cape Breton Island is the same as (ireat Britain 

Islands. 
Cascade Mountains w^ere so named from the "falls" 

of the Columbia there. 
Central America lies between North America and 

South America. 
Charleston is the "town of Charles," King of Eng- 
land. 
Chicago is said to mean "stinking." 
Cincinnati was a society named in honor of the noted 

Roman, Cincinnatus. 
Cockburn was an Explorer. The name means one 

w^ho lived at the "place of the Cock," which was a 

common tavern-sign. 



NORTH AMERICA. 4I 

Cod Cape was named from the cod-fish caught there. 

Columbia — "land of Columbus." 

Conception Cape was named to honor the "Immacu- 
late Conception." 

CoRRiENTES — "currents." 

Cumberland is the "land of hollows;" some say 
"Cymri-land." 

Danish America belongs to the Danes (Dan's). Dan 

was a Norse Chief. 
Davis Strait was discovered by John Davis. 



East Cape is "east" of Asia. 

Ellesmere is a surname meaning "Elias-lake." Also 

an English town. 
Erie is the name of a tribe of Indians. It means 

"wild cat." 



Flattery — "level." 

Florida was discovered on "Pascua Florida" or 

Easter Sunday. 
Fox is a common surname applied first to "cunning" 

men. 

Great Bear Lake is towards the group of stars thus 

named. 
Great Slave Lake was probably named after the 

Slavonian people. 



42 NORTH AMERICA- 



Greenland might have been named from the green 

moss on its coast. 
Grinnell Land was discovered by the U. S. Grinnell 

Expedition, in 1850. 

Hayti — "high land." 

Honduras — "deep water." 

Hudson Bay and Strait were discovered by Henry 

Hudson. 
Humboldt was a noted scientist, 
Huron means "hair," from an Indian tribe having 

much hair. 

Iceland has much ice on its northern shores. 

Jamaica is the "country of springs." 

Kane was a noted explorer in the Arctic region. 

Labrador is "plow land," to contrast with the un- 

cultivatable Greenland. 
Lancaster is in England, "the fort on the Lune" 

river, 
Leon — "lion." 
Lower California was so called to distinguish it 

from Alta or Upper California. 

Mackenzie was the discoverer of the Mackenzie 
River. 



NORTH AMERICA. 43 

Manitoba is "Manitou land." Manitou is the Indian 

God. 
Mexico was so called from Mexitli, the Aztec God of 

War. 
Michigan is a "fish dam." 
Mississippi — "great river." 
Missouri — "muddy river." 
Montreal —"Mount Royal." 

Nova Scotia is "New Scotland." 

Ontario — "a village on a mountain." 
Ottawa was named from the "traders" who first went 
there. 

Pacific means "peaceful " 

Panama is the name of a mud fish found there. 

Philadelphia is the city of "brotherly love." 

PopocATAPETL — "smokiug mountain. " 

Portland is the "land by the port," or harbor. Por- 
tus was a noted Roman. 

PoRTO Rico is the "rich port." 

Presidents Land was named in honor of the Presi- 
dent of the United States. 

PRiNce Alberts Land and Prince of Wales I, 
were named in honor of Albert, Prince of Wales. 

Quebec means "take care of the rock" in the river. 
Queen Charlotte I. was named to honor that 
Queen. 



44 NORTH AMERICA. 

Red River gets its name from the color of its water. 
Reykjavik means "steam town/' from the hot springs 

near it. 
Rio Grande is "big river." 
Rocky Mountains are "rocky." 

Sable — "sand." 

Salt Lake City is near the Great Salt Lake. 

San Francisco is named to honor St. Francis. 

" Jose is named to honor St. Joseph. 

" Lucas is named to honor St. Luke. 
Saskatchewan — "swift current." 
Sierra Madre — "Mother mountains." 

" Nevada — "mountains white" with snow. 
Smith is a common surname meaning "one who 

smites" or strikes. 
Snake River was so named from the Indians who live 

near it. 
Southhampton means "south home town." 
St. Elias, St. Johns, St. Lawrence, St. Louis and 

St. PauI show the religious feeling of the Catholics 

who named them. 
Superior is the "larger" lake. 

Upernavik is the "upper town." 

Vancouver L was named after one of Cai)t. Cook's 

officers, afterwards Capt. Vancouver. 
Vera Cruz means the "true cross." 



UNITED STATES. 



Adirondack — "he eats bark." 

Alabama — "here we rest." 

Alaska is a "great country." 

Albany, named after the Duke of York and Albany, 

means "high land." 
Albemarle is "white earth." 
Albuquerque — "white oak." 
Alleghany is the "country of the Alligewi." 
Altamaha is "where the town is." 
Annapolis was Queen "Anne's city." 
Appalachian Indians gave the name to the mountains. 
Arizona is said to mean "sand-hills." 
Ashland is land on which the ash tree grows. 
Astoria is John Jacob "Astor's land." 
Atlanta was a city and game of Greece. 
Augusta — "grand." 



46 UNITED STATES. 



Austin — "grand." Stephen Austin is often called 
the Father of 'I'exas. 

Baker is a surname meaning "one who bakes.'' 
Baltimore was named after Lord Baltimore, the 

founder of Maryland. 
Bangor is said to mean "high choir."' 
Baton Rouge means "red staff." A huge red cedar 

once stood there. 
Bismarck is a noted German statesman. 
Black Hills are dark in color. 
Boise — "woods." 
Boston was "St. Botolph's town." 
Brazos — "arms." 
Brooklyn — "brook pool." 
Buffalo once roamed there. 
Butte is a "lone mountain." 

Canada — "a village." 

Canadian settlers first lived on the river. 

Carolina is the "country of (King) Charles." 

Carson was a noted explorer. 

Central City is in the center of the mountains. 

Champlain explored the Lake of that name. 

Charles Cape and Charleston were named in honor 

of King Charles. 
Cha'i TA HOOCH EE — "painted stone " 
Chesapeake — "great waters." 



DNiTEb sTATKs. 47 

Cheyenne — "scarred arm." 

Chicago — "stinking." 

Cincinnati— from Cincinnatus, a noted Roman. 

Clarke was the discoverer of that River. Clarke 

is the same as "clerk." 
Cleveland^ — "cliff-land." 
Cod fish abounded off that Cape. 
Columbia and Columbus honor America's discoverer. 
Concord- — "harmony." 
Connecticut — "long river." 
Cumberland- — "land of hollows" or "Cymri land." 

Dakota is the name of a tribe of Indians. Dakota 

means "allied." 
Dallas was a Vice-President of the United States. 
Davenport was a settler there. 
Delaware was named after Lord de la Ware, who 

died there. 
Deming — "doom-town" a surname. 
Des Moines — "the mounds." 
Detroit — "strait." 
Dover — "a ferry." 
Dubuque was named after a settler, Julian Dubuque. 

El Paso — "the pass." 
Erie — "wild-cat" Indians. 
Eureka — "I have it." 
Everglades- — "low swampy land." 



4^ UNITED STATES. 



Fargo of the Express. 

Florida was discovered on Easter. "Pascua Florida." 
Frankford — The Franks were a German tribe. 
Fremont was a noted explorer. 

Georgia is King "George's country." 
Glazier — "one who puts in glass." The name of an 
explorer, who did not discover the lake (Elk Lake). 
Gold Hill, because of the mines. 
Grand — "big." 

Great Salt Lake — as the name indicates. 
Green River has that color. 

Harrisburg — Henry's or "Harry's town." 

Hartford — where the deer cross the stream. 

Hood was an explorer. 

Houston was a noted Texan. 

Hudson River was named after the discoverer, Henry 

Hudson. 
Humboldt was a noted scientist. 
Huron Indians wore their "hair" long. 

Idaho — "gem of the mountains." 
Indiana — "Indian land." 
Indianapolis — "Indian-land city." 
Illinois — "tribe of men." 
Itasca is probably a fancy word. 

Jackson and Jacksonville were named in honor 
of General Jackson. 



UNITED STATES. 49 



James River was named after King James. 
Jefferson City honors Thomas Jefferson. 
John Day River was named after a settler. 
Juan de Fuca was a Greek explorer, who discovered 
the Strait. 

Kansas — "smoky water." 
Kansas City is close to Kansas, 
Kentucky — "at the head of a river." 
Key West — A key is a small island. 

Lansing is a surname. 

Las Vegas — "the meadows." 

Lawrence is a surname meaning "crowned with 

laurel." 
Leadvilee — From the lead and silver mines found 

there. 
Leavenworth is a surname. Worth is a farm-home. 
I>ewts was a noted explorer who went with Clarke. 
Little Rock has a small rock in the river near the 

town. 
Llano Estacado or Staked Plain was once crossed 

by a line of stakes to guide emigrants. 
Long Lsland is long in shape. 
Long's Peak was named after a "long" man. 
Los Angeles is the City of the Queen of "the Angels." 

Madison was one of our Presidents. 



50 UNITED STATES. 



Maine was named after a French province. 

Manchester — "the hero's castle." 

Maryland was named after Queen Henrietta "Maria." 

Ma'^ysv^ille was named after the wife of a settler. 

Massachusetts — "about the great hills." 

Memphis — "temple of God." 

Mendocino — "a little liar." 

Mexico— Mexitli was the Aztec God of War, 

Michigan —"a dam for fish." 

Miles City — in honor of General Miles. 

Milwaukee — "rich land." 

Minneapolis — "water city." 

Minnesota — "cloudy water." 

Mississippi — "great river." 

Missouri — "muddy river." 

Mobile — "weak ? city. ' ' 

MoosEHEAD is where the moose lived. 

Montana — "mountain land." 

Montgomery was a noted General. 

Montpelier — "girl's mountain." 

Nashville — Nash means one who lives "at the ash'' 

tree place. 
Nevada — "white" with snow. 
Newark — "new ark" or place of refuge. 
New Haven, or "new harbor" of refuge. 
New Jersey^ named after the isle of Jersey — "Caesar's 

land." 



UNITKI) STATES. 



New Mexico was purchased from Mexico. 

New Orleans, after Orleans in France. 

Newport — "new port," or harbor. 

Ne.v York was named after King James, then Duke 

of York and Albany." 
Niagara — "neck of water,' some say "thunder water." 
Niobrara — "running water." 
Norfolk— "north folks." 

Oakland has many oak trees. 
Ogden is a surname meaning "hog's den." 
Ohio — "beautiful" river. 
Olympia — "Jupiter's land." 
Omaha Indians lived there. 
Ontario — "a village on a mountain." 
Oregon — "river of the west," some say "wild maijo- 
ram," which grows there. 

Pacific — "peaceful." 

Pennsylvania — "Penn's woods." 

Philadelphia — "city of brotherly love." 

Phcenix — a fabulous bird which springs from its own 

ashes. 
Pierre — Peter, meaning "rock." 
Pikes Peak — The Pikes are Missourians. 
Pitt is a surname meaning "one who works in a pit" 

or hole. 
PiTTSBUR(; is "Pitt's town," 



52 UNITEB STATES. 



Platte — "shallow. ' ' 

Portland — where the ships can land. 

Potomac — "place of the burning pine." 

Prescott — "priest's house." 

Providence — to commemorate the care oi (iod in 

leading them there. 
Provo is a surname meaning "set before." 

Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh (Ralph's 
meadow) . 

Red is a common name for muddy rivers and lakes. 

Rhode Island — "red." 

Richmond — The King of England is Earl of Rich- 
mond. 

Rochester is a surname meaning "strong castle." 

Sabine — "the red cedar." 
Sable — "sand." 

Sacramento — "sacred." To honor the Holy "Sacra- 
ment. ' ' 
Salem is a contraction of Jerusalem, "house of peace.' 
San Antonio honors St. Anthony. 

" Diego was reached on St. James' day. 

" Francisco honors St. Francis. 

" Joaquin honors St. Joachim. 

" Jose honors St. Joseph. 
Santa Fe is "Holy Faith." 
Savannah — "meadow." 



UNriKD S'lA'I'E.S. 53 

Seattle was an Indian chief. 

Shasta — "men." Is the name of a tribe oi Indians. 

S.MOKY Hill is near the head of that river. 

South Pass City is l)y that i)ass through the RocKy 

Mountains. 
Springfield is a field that contains a s[)ring. 
St. Augustine was founded on that day. 
St. Lawrence was explored on that day. 
Superior — "larger.'' 

Tallahassee — "old town on river. " 
Tennessee — "big bend river.'' 
Texas — "place of friends" or protection. 
Toledo — "families" or races. 
Trenton — "winding river town." 
Trinity, to honor the "three" Gods in one. 
Tulare was named from the "tules" or rushes found 
there. 

Vermont — "green mountains." Its mountains aie 
covered with evergreens. 

VicKSBURG — "Vick's town." Vick is a surname mean- 
ing "in the place of" Christ. 

Virginia was named after Elizabeth, the "Virgin" 
Queen. 

Virginia City was named by a Virginian. 

Walla Walla is the name of a tribe of Indians. 
"Away down." 



54 UNITED STATES. 



Washington honors our first l^resident. Literally, 

"meadow creek town." 
West Virginia — This state was cut off from Virginia 

during the Civil war. 
Wheeling — "wheel town," because wagons were 

made in the English town. 
White River from the color of the water. 
Whitney was a geologist. "A bleacher" of linen. 
Willamette — "little William. " 
Wilmington — "William's town." 
Wisconsin — "wild rushing channel." 
Woods — The Lake of the Woods is surrounded by 

great forests. 
Wyoming State gets its name from the Wyoming 

Indians of New York and Pennsylvania. 

Yankton is the name of a tribe of Indians. 
Yuma is the name of a tribe of Indians. 




MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND 
THE WEST INDIES. 



Atlantic — "beyond the Atlas" Mountains. 

Balize is a corruption of "Wallace," a pirate. 
Blanco — "white." 

California was an island in a Spanish romance, and 

Cortez thojjght that Lower California was also an 

island. 
Caribbean — the Caribs or "cruel men" live on its 

eastern side. 
Central America is between North and South 

America. 
Corriente s — "currents." 
Costa Rica — "rich coast." Gold was found there. 

DuLCE — "sweet." 



56 MEXICO, ETC. 



El LiMON — "the lemon," which grows there. 

Gracios a Digs — "thanks to God" said an early ex- 
plorer, as he rounded the cape in a storm. 

Hayti — "high land." 

Honduras is the land of "great depth." 

Jamaica is the "land of springs." 
Kingston, in honor of the King of England. 
Leon — "lion." 

Mexico is named after Mexitli, the Aztec God of War. 
Mosquito Gulf adjoins the Mosquito Coast, where 
mosquitoes abound. 

Nicaragua was named after Nicaro (balsam), a chief. 

Pacific — "peaceful." 
PopocATAPETL — "smoking mountain. " 
Porto Rico — "rich port." 
Puerto Principe — "chief gate." 
PuNTA Arenas — "point of san^s." 



Rio Grande — "big river." 

San Antonio — "St. Anthony." 
" Domingo — "holy Sunday." 



MEXICO, ETC. 57 



San Jose — "St. Joseph." 

" Juan del Sur — "St. John of the south." 

" Salvador — "Holy Savior." 
Sierra Madre — "mountains of the Mother" of 
Christ. 

Tegucigalpa — "city of the silver hills." 
Trinidad — "trinity." 

United States — many states are united in one 
country. 

Vera Cruz — "true cross." 

West Indies — to distinguish from the true India 

(great-river-land.) 
Windward — "towards the wind." 

Yucatan — "What do you say?" asked the natives 
when the Spaniards inquired the name of their 
country. 




SOUTH AMERICA. 



Amazon — "boat destroyer." Great waves, from ten 
to twenty feet high, come in with the tide at the 
full moon and destroy boats. 

America was named afteJ Amerigo Vespucci. 

Andes — "copper." 

Argentina — "silver country," from the silvery looks 
of its rivers. 

Aspinwall was a merchant whose ships went there. 

Asuncion, in honor of the "assumption" of the Vir- 
gin Mary into heaven. 

Bahia is on a "bay." 

Blanco — "white." 

Bolivia was named after Gen. Bolivar, the Liberator. 

Brazil — "dye-wood," which we get from there. 

Buenos Ayres — "good air." 



6o SOUTH AMERICA. 



Chili — "land of snow." 

Chiloe — "snow island." 

Chimborazo — "chimney." 

Chincha — "bugs ?' ' 

Cocha Bamra — "drinking pool." 

Colon is the Spanish name of Columbus. 

CoRRiENTES — "currents." 

CuENCA — "a wooden bowl." 

Ecuador is on the "equator," 

Frio— "cold." 

Galapagos — "turtles." 
Gallinas — "chickens." 
Georgetown — from Kin^- George. 

Horn was named from Hoorn in Holland, the birth- 
place of the discoverer. 

Juan Fernandez (John Ferdinand) was the dis- 
coverer in 1567. 

La Paz — "the peace." 
Llanos — "flat lands." 

Madeira — "wooded." 
Magdalena is a woman's name. 
Magellan was the discoverer in 1520. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 6 I 



Maracaibo — "water dwellers." They built on jjiles 

to be rid of mosquitoes. 
Matto Grosso is "covered with big bushes." 
McNrEViDEO — "a sightly mountain." 

Negro — "black." 
Orinoco — "coiled snake." 

Pampas — "big plains." 

Panama is the name of a mua fish found there. 

Para — "father of waters." It means "river" in Par- 
aguay, Parana, Parlmaribo, and Peru. 

Paraguay — "river of rivers." 

Patos — "ducks." 

Peru — "a river city." 

Rio de la Plata — "river of silver. ' The water 
shines like silver. 

Rio Janeiro — "river of January." 

Salado — "salty." 

San Francisco — "St. Francis." 

San Matias was discovered on St. Mattias day. 

Santiago — "St. James." 

Selvas — "forests." 

Serra do Espinhaco- "mountains of thorns." 

Staten — "a settlement/' station or town. 

St. Roque Cape was sighted on that day. 

Sucre — "sugar." 



62 SOUTH AMERICA. 



TiERRA DEL FuEGO — "land of fire," from the fires 
seen by Magellan. 

Trinidad has "three" mountain peaks which Colum- 
bus first thought were three islands. So he called 
them after the Trinity. 

United States of Columbia was named after Colum- 
bus. 

Valparaiso — "Vale of Paradise." 

Venezuela called "little Venice" because the natives 

lived in houses built on piles out in the lake, to be 

rid of the mosquitoes. 




EUROPE. 



Adriatic is the sea of the Emperor "Adrian." 

Africa — "black man's land." 

Alps — "height white with snow." 

Amsterdam was built at the "dam of the Amstel" 

River. 
Apennines are "small mountains" compared to the 

Alps. 

Archangel, in honor of the "chief angel" Michael. 

Archipelago — "the chief sea." 

Arctic is from a word meaning "bear." 

Asia — "east." 

Astrakhan — "district of a Khan" or ruler. 

Athens is the city of Athene, or Minerva, the God- 
dess of Wisdom. 

Atlantic is "beyond Mt. Atlas" as compared with 
the Mediterranean. 



64 EUROPE. 



Austria is the "eastern empire." 

Balearic — "throwing," because the inhabitants were 

expert slingers. 
Baltic Sea is full of "belts," or straits. 
Barcelona was named from Hamilcar "Barca." 
Belgium, Bulgaria and Volga get their names from 

the Belgise tribe. 
Belgrade — "white city." 
Bergen — "mountains." 
Berlin — "uncultivated land." 
Berne — "bears." 
Biscay — "Basque country," or mountain provinces. 

Webster says "forests." 
Black Sea has black rocks and black storms. 
Blanc is a "white" mountain. 
Bordeaux is on "the border" of the water. 
BosPHORUS is the "ox-ford." 
Bothnia — "deep sea." 
Brest — "great" port, 
British is from Britannia — "land of tin." 
Bucharest is a "city of enjoyment." 
Bud a and Pesth are on opposite sides of the Danube. 

Buda founded Buda city. 
Bulgaria — see Belgium. 

Candia — "land of trenches." 

Caspian Sea was named from the Caspii tribe. 



EUROPE. 65 



Cattegat is the "strait of Catti." 
Caucasus Mountains are "white" with snow. 
Christiana was rebuilt by Christian IV! 
Constantinople is the "city of Constantine," its 

founder. When he became a Christian he was to 

be "constant" to his reHgion. 
Corsica is a "wooded island." 
Crimea is the Kimri or "Cymri-land." 
Cypress is from the Greek name of the I.awsonia alba. 

Danube — '"low meadow." 

Dardanelles is the Strait of Dardanus, who built a 

city there. 
Denmark is Dan's mark or boundary. Dan was a 

Scandinavian chief. 
Dneiper is the "upper river," and Dneister, the "lower 

river." 
Don— "low." 
Dover — "a ferry." 
Dublin — "black pool." 

Ebro from the Iberi tribe who settled Iberia- now Spain. 
Edinburgh — "Edwin's castle." 
Elboorz — "peaked mountain." 

England — "Angle land." The Angles were a Ger- 
man tribe who conquered England. 
Etna — "mountain of fire." 



Faroe — "sheep island." 
Finisterre — "the end of the land." 



66 EUROPE. 



Florence — "flowers." 

France — "land of the Franks" or freemen. They 

carried a "franca," or kind of javelin. 
F'rankfort — "fort of the Franks." 

Genoa — "city of Janus," who also names January. 
Germany — "neighbors' country." Webster says 

"warriors." 
Gibraltar — "hills of Tarik." 
Glasgow — "dark ravine." 
Gottenberg is a "town on the Gotha" river. 
Guadiana is the "river Anas." 

Hague — "hedge." 
Havre — "harbor." 
Hebrides — "western.' ' 
Holland — "swampy land." 
Hungary — "land of Huns" or giants. 

Iceland is a "land of ice." 

Ireland — "western land." 

Italy was named from King Italus. 

Land's End is the South West end of England. 

Lapland is where the Lapps live. 

London — "fortified hill by the pool." 

Lyons City — "hill of the raven." 

Lyons Gulf — the storms roar like "lions." 

Manchester — "the castle of the man" or hero. 
Marmora has "marble" on one of its islands. 



EUROPE. . 67 



Mediterranean is "in the middle of the land" that 

was first known. 
Montenegro — "Black mountain." 
Munich — "monks." 
Naples — "new city." 
Netherlands — "lower lands." 
North Cape is north of Europe. North Sea is 

north of Germany. 
Norway — "North island." 
Nova Zembla is a "new country." 
Novgorod — "new city." 
Oporto — "the port." 
Orkney — "whale island." 

Poland — "men of the plains" formerly over-run the 

country. 
Portugal — "port of Cale." 
Prague — "threshold." 

Reikiavik — "steam town," from the hot springs there. 
Rome — "strength," founded by Romulus. 
RoUxMania and Roumelia were Roman provinces. 
Russia was settled by the Russ tribe. 

Sardinia is the "land of the Sardonian" plant. 

Scotland — "wanderers land." 

Servia is the "land of the Suevi" who afterwards 

settled Sweden. 
Shetland is "Viking land." Vik means "creek." The 

Vikings used to hide their pirate vessels in creeks. 



68 EUROPE. 



Sicily was settled by the Siculi tribe. Webster says 
"cut off." 

Sierra Nevada — "mountains white with snow." 

Skagerrack— "crooked strait between the promon- 
tories." 

Sophia — "wisdom." 

Spain — "land of rabbits." 

St. George was the patron saint of England. 

.Stockholm — "castle island." 

Sweden — "Swedes and Danes." See Servia. 

Switzerland — There were three (schweitz) cantons, 
including the canton of Schwyz, which first de- 
clared independence of Austria. 

Thames — "broad water." (Isis R.) 
Turkey — "land of the Turks" or Tartars. 

Ural — "belt" or girdle. 

Venice is where the "Veniti" tribe lived. 
Vienna was the home of the "Vends." 
Volga and Bulgaria were the homes of the "Volsci" 
tribe. 

Wales — "foreigners." Webster says "west." 
White Sea is white with snow half of the time. 



ASIA. 



Afghanistan is the "country of the Afghans." 

Africa — "black man's country." 

Altai — "Golden mountains." 

Amoor and Amoo — "water." 

Arabia — "men of the desert land." Webster says 

"west."' 
Aral — "island." 
Ararat — "huge. ' ' 
Arctic — "great bear." 
Asia — "east." 

Bab el Mandeb — "gate of tears." 
Baikal — "rich lake," i. e. full of fish. 
Behring Sea and Strait were named after their dis- 
coverer. 
Beloochistan is the "country of the Belooches." 
Benares — "splendid." 
Bengal — "to go crooked." 



70 ASIA. 

Black Sea has many black rocks. 

Bokhara — "treasury of sciences.*' 

Bombay — "good harbor." 

Borneo — "land." 

Bramahpootra — "Son of Brahma." 

Calcutta — "landing place of the Goddess of Time." 

Canton — "large east town." 

Caucasus — "white.' ' 

Ceylon — "isle of lions." 

China — "the country of Chin" or Tsin, who built 

the great wall. Webster says "the middle nation." 
Constantinople — "City of Constantine," who found 

it. 
Delhi — "a quicksand." 
Europe — "broad face" land. 
Formosa — "beautiful." 

Ganges — "river" or "great river." 

Gobi — "desert." Also called Shamo "sea of sand." 

Hainan — "south of the sea." 
Himalaya — "abode of snow." 
Hindoo Koosh — "great mountains." 
Hindoostan — "Indus land." 
Hoang Ho — "Yellow river." 

India — "Indus land." 
Indus — "Great river." 
Ispahan — "a soldier." 



ASIA, 71 

Japan is the same as Niphon (sun-land), its largest 

island. 
Jerusalem — "place of peace " 

Kelat — "fort." 

Laccadive — "Lakara islands." Dive means "islands." 

Lassa — "land of divine intelligence." 

Lena — "slow" river. 

Madras — "University town." 

Malacca and Malay Peninsula are named from the 

Malays who live there 
Medina — "The city." 
Mediterranean — "in the middle of the land." 

Nankin — "South Capital." 

Niphon — "sun land." 

Nova Zembla — "new country." 

Pacific is not a "peaceful" ocean on this coast. 
Papua people have huge "frizzled" heads of hair. 
Pekin is the "North Capital." 
Persia — "land of the tigers," meaning the Parsees or 

Persians. 
Philippine Islands were named after Philip II, of 

Spain and Germany. 

Red Sea — from its red bed. 

Siberia— ■ "country of Siber," an ancient Tartar cap- 
ital. 
Singapore — "city of lions." 



72 ASIA, 

Smyrna — "myrrh," which it was once noted for. 

St. Petersburg is the "town of Peter" the Great, 

who was the founder. 
Sumatra — "happy land." 

Tartary — "the land of the Tartars" who lived north 

of the great wall. 
Tashkend — "stone fort." 
Tigris — "arrows." 

Tobolsk — "Tobol River town." — sk means town. 
Turkestan and Turkey — "land of the Turks" or 

Tartars. 

Ural — "belt" or girdle. 

Yang tse Kiang — "son of the sea." 
Yellow Sea gets much yellow mud from the Yellow 
(Hoang Ho) River. 




AFRICA. 



Abyssinia — "mixed race country." 

Agulhas — "needles." 

Albert Lake was named after the husband of Queen 

Victoria. 
Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great. 
Algeria — "Island country." 

Ascension Island was discovered on Ascension day. 
Atlas was said to bear the world upon his shoulders 

after he was changed into a mountain. These 

mountains name the Atlantic Ocean. 
Azores — "hawks." 

Bab el Mandeb — "gate of tears." 
Berbera — "desert country." 
Blanc — "white." 
Bon— "good." 

Cairo — "the victorious." 
Canary — "dog" islands. 



74 AFRICA. 



Cape Colony and Cape Town because they are by 

the Cape of Good Hope. 
Cape Verb Islands are off Cape Verd, — "green." 
CoNSTANTiNE was built by that King. 

Delgado — "a strait place." 

Egypt — "land of oppression." 

Fernando Po was a Portuguese discoverer. 

Free Town was where the English took the negroes 

they captured from slavers. 
Frio — "cold." 

Gibraltar — "hill of Tarik." 

Good Hope to get around Africa to India. 

Guinea — "abounding in gold." 

Liberia — "country of liberty." 

Madagascar — "Malay land." 
Madeira — "timber." 

Mediterranean — "in the middle of the land." 
Monrovia — in honor of President Monroe. 
Morocco — "Moor's land." 

Natal was discovered on that day. (Nativity day.) 
Niger — "black." 
Nyassa — "the sea." 

Orange River and Free State were settled by Dutch 
from Orange in Holland. 

Palmas — "palms," 

Pietermaritzburg — "Peter and Mary's town." 



AFRICA. 75 



Red Sea has a red bed. 

Sahara — "desert." 

Senegambia — from the Senegal and Gambia rivers. 

Sierra Leone — "mountain lion." 

Snow Mountains are often covered with snow. 

Soudan — "land of blacks." 

St. Helena was discovered on that day, 1502. 

Tananarivo is "the town of the Ovahs," a tribe of 

Madagascar. 
1\4NGanyika is "a plain-like lake." 
Tripoli — "three cities." 
Tunis is the land of the Tunes, who live there. 

Verd Cape is noticeably "green" from the contrasting 
Sahara. 

Victoria Falls and Lake are named for Queen Vic- 
toria. 

Zambeze — "Negro River?" 

Zanzibar — "Negro coast." 




OCEANICA. 



Adelaide was the Queen of England. 

America Islands were discovered by an American. 

Arnheim — "Eagle's home." 

Arru is a kind of food. 

Auckland was an English lord. 

Australasia — '-south-east land." 

Australia — "south land." 

Bass, George Bass discovered the Strait. 

Bat AVI a — "low plain." 

Bathurst is a surname meaning "a bathing place in 

the woods." 
Borneo — "land." 

Botany Bay was once noted for its new "j)lants." 
Bougainville was a French traveler. 
Caroline Islands were named after Charles V, or 

Spain. 
Carpentaria — From the first discoverer, Carj)enter. 



OCEAN I CA. 



Chatham Islands were named after Pitt, Earl of 

Chatham. 
Christmas Island was discovered on that day. 
Cook was a noted explorer. 

Darling is a surname meaning "a little dear." 
Dawson is a surname meaning "son of David." 
DuNEDiN— "Edwin's hill." 

ECtMOnt was an explorer. 

Ellice is a surname meaning "Elias." 

EspiRiTU Santo — "Holy Spirit." 

Flinders River was named after Mat. Flinders, a 

noted explorer. 
Friendly Islands were so named by Cook, because 

the natives were "friendly." 

Havv^aii was founded by a fisherman named Hawaii-loa. 
Honolulu — "sheltered slope." 

Java — "land of nutmegs." 

Ladrones — "thieves." The natives stole from Ma- 
gellan. 

Magellan was a noted discoverer. 
Malacca — "Malay country." 
Malaysia — "East Malay country." 
Marquesas — "marks." A surname. 
Melbourne was premier of England when Melbourne 
City was founded. 



OCKANICA. 79 



Melvh.le was an English lord. 

Mindanao — "lake dwellers." 

Moluccas were named trom the "Malay" inhabitants. 

MuRRAy was Sec. of State for the Colonies. 

Nkw Caledonia was named after Caledonia or Scot- 
land. 

New CtUINea was so namea from the "gold" found 
there. 

New Hebride,, — from the Hebrides, "western" Islands 
near Scotland. 

New Zealand — is the "new sea land." 

Norfolk — "north folk." 

Oceanica — "ocean land." 

Pal-Merston was a noted English [premier. 

Papua — "frizzled,"' refers to the hair of the natives. 

Philippine Islands were named for King Philip II. 

Ph<enix is a fal)led bird that arises from its own ashes. 

Polyne.-,l\ — "many islands." 

Queensland was named in honor of Queen Victoria. 

Sandwich — "sand town." The Earl of Sandwich 
was a noted gambler and his favorite lunch while 
gambling was the sliced meat and t)read, now called 
sandwiches. 

Sania Cruz-- "Holy cross." 

Society Islands — after the Royal Societ\ , of which 
Cook was a member. 

Solomon — "i)eaceable." 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




80 



OCEANICA, 



017 167 848 1 i 



Spencer is a surname meaning "one who gives out 

food." 
Spice Islands have many spices growing there. 
Sumatra — "happy land." 
Sydney — "St. Denys." 

Tasmania was named from its discovery by Abel Tas- 
man. 

Torres- (towers) Strait was discovered by Captain 
Torres in 1606. 

Victoria is the Queen of England. 
Wellington was a great General. 



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